Page 25 of Tracking Snow

One was going to kiss me. Or maybe kill me.

Or maybe that was me. I wanted him so badly I knew I was about to do something extremely stupid, so I just...did a different stupid thing.

Kind of a genius way to handle things.

I should probably start some kind of coaching program to teach others my ways.

I tread water, seeing the city from a totally new perspective that takes my breath away. Or maybe the brutally cold water has taken my breath.

A burst of icy water hits my face with an explosive splash. I can’t help but laugh.

I didn’t really expect him to follow me. Though I hoped he would.

When One surfaces, he’s inches away from me. His hair is soaked, the curls dragged heavy and loose, dripping in his eyes. Stripped of his sweater and any shirt he may have been wearing underneath.

But when I meet his eyes, I realize they are no longer the misty pale color. They are ruby red.

One has this unshakable, tense energy, so as to stay in control. Which is probably why I love yanking his chain.

Whoever this is, energy and intensity radiate off him in a totally new way. He doesn’t regard me with that underlying wariness or exasperation.

I’m being devoured by whoever this is, just by his eyes alone.

"Um. Hi." I say, chewing on my lip. "Who am I talking to now?"

"Four," he practically purrs, circling me in the water, slowly, steadily, like a shark.

"Pleasure to meet you," I say, feeling a sudden heat in my chest and lady bits.

Wait. No. That’s not just internal. The water went from ice freaking cold to the temperature of a warm bath.

"Whoa, are you..."

"Heating up the water? Yes," he says. "So you don’t freeze to death like a little idiot."

Despite his dig, he doesn’t say it with condescension. It’s more like he’s teasing me.

"You’re the idiot who followed me in," I say with a smirk even as I process that Four has some kind of heating power. That’s so cool.

Or hot, I guess.

I wonder at all the ways he could use that power. All the ways I would use it if I had it⁠—

My thoughts completely falter as he’s inches away from me. His lips spread into the most sultry, devilish grin I’ve ever seen. His bare shoulders bob out of the water as he treads water, pale lines of muscles cutting through the darkness.

Steam begins to rise off the water around us.

"I heard you daring One, taunting him." He lets out a low chuckle. "And I’m here to assure you that I’m the one who’s known to have the impulse problem." His red eyes drop to my lips.

Oh shit.

The water heats until steam curls around me, and I feel as though I’m treading water in a hot spring.

Before I can ask if it’s really a problem, Four’s hands find my hips and yank me closer until my legs hitch over his hips and my arms encircle his neck. My nipples tighten with need, and I suddenly wish the water was cold again. Pressed against his hard, lean body, my throat dries and sweat pops out along my hairline.

"I’ve been watching you, you know," he says, again with that dangerous purr in his voice.

"So I understand," I swallow hard, feeling way too much too fast. Heat, overwhelm, a bit of whiplash, but mainly, raging, unforgiving horniness. "That’s kind of the deal, right? One of you gets to run the show, but everybody is a witness."